Steve Vinson, lead
singer for The Manny Charlton Band and
the Audio Crew at Overdrive Productions
want to offer our sincere condolences to Dimebag’s
brother “Vinnie Paul”, Darrell’s
family, his former members of Pantera,
and band mates of Damageplan.
Steve Vinson had the opportunity to meet Darrell
and jam with him in November of 1996 (when
Steve’s band played at Sharkey’s
in Fort Worth, Texas).

Darrell Abbott, better
known as "Dimebag",
was the son of country-western
songwriter Jerry Abbott. Dimebag
was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 20,
1966.

Dime was introduced to
music at an early age and had natural
musical talent that was enhanced and influenced
by the likes of Jerry Abbott,
Ace Frehley, Randy Rhoads, Gene Simmons
and Eddie Van Halen

Because of his father's involvement in
the music industry, Dimebag took
guitar lessons from famous country music
stars at a very young age.

As a teenager he performed in local talent
competitions and contests in the Dallas
Texas area. Eventually, having won them
all, Darrell was not allowed to enter
amateur musician contests.

Before forming the band Pantera
along with Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown,
and brother Vinnie Paul in 1982,
Dimebag Darrell played
in a variety of nightclubs and bars in
the Dallas / Fort Worth Texas area.

Dimebag was shot to death
on December 8, 2004, during a performance
by Damageplan, at Alrosa
Villa - Columbus, Ohio. A crazed Pantera
fan who was apparently distraught over
the break-up of Pantera,
shot Darrell Abbott 4
times on stage while he was performing.

Steve Vinson would like to
share some personal photographs with fans
of Dimebag Darrell Abbott. Photos were taken
in 1996 during a performance by Steve's band
at Sharkey's in Dallas Texas.